2024 UAF LEGACY LECTURE Honoring Distinguished Alumni

Jyotsna “Jo” Heckman grew up in India and moved to Fairbanks in 1975. She earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Jo was a founding member of Denali State Bank and retired as president and chief executive officer in December 2011 after 26 years of service with the bank. Jo was appointed to the University of Alaska Board of Regents by Governor Sean Parnell and served from 2011-2019. She is the recipient of the UAF Alumni Association’s William Cashen Service Award, the UAF Distinguished Alumnus Award, the Farthest North Girl Scouts Council’s Woman of Distinction Award, and in 2008, was selected as Business Leader of the Year by the UAF Associated Students of Business. In 2018, the Midnight Sun Boy Scout Council honored Jo and her husband, Steve, as distinguished citizens. Currently, Jo is working on exploring the agriculture industry in interior Alaska. She teaches culinary classes through the Summer Fine Arts Festival and, UAF Summer Sessions and Lifelong Learning. She writes agriculture and food security articles for her website, jostablealaska.com, and has a podcast called “Jo’s Table Alaska,” showcasing food growers and producers in interior Alaska.